FORMER Canberra Raiders and 2000 World Cup PNG Kumul Mark Mom has been appointed to lead the much anticipated National Rugby League School Programme. The programme is expected to deliver rugby league training, technical assistance and mentoring in 80 schools across the country.The former Kumul captain who was employed as the programme’s in-country general manager in August believes that the initiative offers endless opportunities for NRL and PNG alike.“I’m passionate about educating our kids and there is no better way of doing this than through our nation’s most popular sport, rugby league” Mom said.The man from Gulf and Madang had a successful league career as a player, coach and administrator followed by a career in construction.Mom, 39, had stints with the Canberra Raiders and Easts Tigers in the Queensland Cup in the 1990s.He represented PNG from 1994- 2003 and was part of the 2000 World Cup campaign in England and France and captained the side in 2001.Since retirement he has continued to stay and involved with rugby league coaching in the PNGNRL and was an assistant to current Kumuls coach Adrian Lam in the 2008 World Cup campaign in Australia. “It’s ambitious, but we are hoping to reach 80 schools, 50,000 students and train 500 teachers in three years,” Mom said.“It’s a big job and it has been tremendously exciting trying it out in our first school in Port Moresby.”The programme started last Thursday at Waigani Primary School in Port Moresby and works individually with students both on and off the field with literacy modules strongly emphasised.Acting Education Minister James Marape said that the programme was a welcomed step forward.“We are pleased to partner with NRL to improve the quality of education for boys and girls of all abilities in PNG through rugby league activities and also increase the capacity of our teachers,” Marape said.“I would like to thank the Australian Government and the NRL for bringing this fantastic programme to our Kids.”Mom said the three-year programme is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAID) and managed through a partnership between Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and the NRL.Former Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd pledge funding of A$4 million (K9.4) and Julia Gillard launched it in June at Wagani Primary School.He said the NRL is partnering with the Department of Education to deliver the programme with support from a range of stakeholders including PNG Rugby Football League and the University of PNG.